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The Best Summer Race Kit of 2018

Smoke the competition.

(Courtesy Salomon)

Salomon Sonic RA Shoes ($130)

Salomon’s new road shoe is light enough to give you a bump in speed and durable enough to withstand miles of pavement pounding. The breathable mesh upper fits snug around the forefoot to mitigate blisters and dead toenails.

Nuun Electrolytes Tablets ($7)

Nuun’s tabs contain important minerals like potassium, magnesium, and sodium, and all 13 flavors are formulated with just a hint of natural sugar, so you don’t get that syrupy aftertaste of many sports drinks. Drop one into your water bottle to help prevent dehydration.

Skratch Labs Chocolate Sport Recovery Mix ($33)

Recovery starts the moment you cross the finish line. But after a race, who can bear the thought of stomaching anything solid? Enter this mix, a near perfect concoction of protein, fat, carbohydrates, and salt, minus the GI distress.

Brooks Hideout Jacket ($150)

We wouldn’t wish bad weather on anyone’s race, but it happens. And when the storm clouds roll in, you want this jacket. The Hideout is both wind- and water-resistant, without the clingy, suffocating feel of other running shells. And it easily slides over a long-sleeve layer.

Chaco Zong X EcoTread Sandals ($85)

Keep these in your bag to put on as soon as your race is run. The cushy rubber bottom feels like a pillow under-foot, and the double strap in front provides extra stability to make that post-race shuffle a little less painful.

Tracksmith Club Duffel ($128)

A durable leather and canvas exterior makes this the classiest race bag you’ll find at gear check. It’s perfectly sized to fit your shoes and a few other key items, and includes a zip pocket for small essentials.

Light up the trails with these all-terrain performers. (Courtesy Brooks)
Brooks Mazama 2 ($140)
The reason the Mazama is taking home Gear of the Year is simple: it’s a Ducati with knobby tires. Built for hammer-day speed, it’s a low-riding shoe that can absolutely scorch flat and rolling trail sections, yet has the technical chops to move with abandon through rocky terrain. The flexible, rock-plate-protected design makes it easy to hopscotch patches of dirt between loose rubble. While the Mazama is pretty pared back, Brooks significantly boosted the shoe’s comfort-oriented features compared with last year’s version—think extra padding around

Think back to your first runs, when you still huffed and puffed through a 5K, glancing at your watch every minute and wishing it would stop. You’d reach down and touch your shirt—soft, a little damp, and almost certainly made of cotton. These days low-tech, plain-Jane cotton is something of a has-been, replaced by newfangled synthetics and resurgent natural fibers like merino. But despite cotton’s drawbacks, there’s still a lot to love. (Courtesy Patagonia)
Patagonia Flying Fish Organic Cotton ($35)
Some of our favorites, like Patagonia’s Flying Fish Organic Cotton, are as simple as running itself. It’s printed with

Seven top performers for pounding the pavement. (Courtesy Hoka One One)
Hoka One One Mach ($140)
Since Hoka hit the running-shoe scene in 2009, not one of its lightweight megafoam constructions has managed to earn our Gear of the Year honors. This year the curse is broken. The superfast, midfat Mach was the top pick of about half our team, and it earned strong marks from everyone else—a rare instance of something approaching unanimity. Built atop a snappy midsole that’s firmly energetic but easy on the legs, the Mach is thick, quick, and easy to love. “The responsiveness allowed

Training essentials for road and trail. (Courtesy Tracksmith)
Tracksmith Twilight Tank ($48)
This breathable polyester tank is perfect for sweaty summer miles. Bonus: it looks as sleek as a racing singlet.
Buy Now (Courtesy Sol)
Sol Sunguard Sunscreen (from $30)
This mineral-based ­sun­screen is the holy grail of skin protection. It doesn’t leave you wraith white and won’t come off when you’re sweaty or hitting the waves.
Buy Now (Courtesy Brooks)
Brooks Canopy Jacket ($120)
There are lots of lightweight, water-resistant layers that will shield you from wind and rain. But the Canopy is made of ripstop polyester, so

High mileage without the sticker shock. (Courtesy Hoka One One)
Hoka One One Ora Recovery Sandals ($50)
Whether you just busted out a personal best at a race or slogged through another training session, Hoka’s Ora Recovery sandals provide maximum post-run comfort for your beat feet. It takes the brand’s signature oversize midsole and enhanced rocker and applies them to a slip-on.
Men's Women's (Courtesy Buff)
Buff Reflective Headwear ($25)
Everyone loves the versatility of a Buff, but runners in particular should be snapping these up in droves. Buff’s headwear wicks moisture and provides UV protection on long, sunny sessions.

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